Future Fireworks displays at Ghajn Tuffieha not excluded

Despite photographic evidence documenting the aftermath of last week's fireworks festival, the Malta Environment and Planning Authority has defended its choice of allowing the launching of fireworks so close to a special area of conservation (SAC) and is not excluding the organisation of similar events in the future.

MEPA is claiming that the only fires occurred in an abandoned field and were effectively dealt with.

Earlier this week the Gaia foundation, which is responsible for the management of Golden Bay and the nearby Riviera, said on its Facebook page it was "appalled" to find the mess left in the area after the weekend's show.

Organised by the Malta Tourism Authority, the three-day festival involved fireworks let off from a field in Marsaxlokk, then from Għajn Tuffieħa on Sunday and ending up last night at Grand Harbour.

The display in Ghajn Tuffieha ignited several small fires in the surrounding countryside.

The fireworks were let off from a field north of the Ħal Ferħ complex, below the road leading to the Għajn Tuffieħa car park.

But a spokesperson for MEPA insisted that officials who were monitoring the site during the event reported that there was no damage to SAC area.

"The reported fires occurred in an abandoned agricultural field."

The Authority is also satisfied that the organisers cooperated fully with its officers during all phases of the event.

Neither did MEPA exclude the organsisation of similar events in the proximity of Natura 2000 sites in the future.

"In the case of activities in the vicinity of an SAC, which may potentially have deleterious effects on the neighbouring protected areas, MEPA shall continue to liaise with the organisers of such activities to ensure a high level of control through monitoring effective procedures."

MaltaToday was the first to raise queries on the organisation of the event.  During the week leading up to the organisation of the event, a spokesperson for MEPA promised that the event was to be monitored by officers from the Enforcement Directorate of MEPA to ensure that all precautions are taken to avoid spill over of the activity into nearby sensitive areas.

MEPA had also directed the MTA to hold the event on a site next to the Hal Ferh complex, which site is outside the boundary of the Special Area of Conservation.